Selina gave a little gasp. ‘So little …’ She swallowed hard as she saw her sister’s stricken expression. ‘We had hoped it might be two hundred pounds or so.’
‘Your dear mama spent quite a bit on clothes and the things she wanted to give you and your sisters. Of course all her furniture and jewels belong to you, and I daresay they may fetch a thousand or two—if you care to sell them.’
‘We may have to if we are to find ourselves a new home,’ Selina said, and glanced at her cousin, who had the grace to look ashamed. ‘We are determined to be independent of Cousin Joshua, even though he has kindly offered us a home in his house.’
‘Well, I thought you would say that, Miss Searles,’ the lawyer said, and looked pleased with himself. ‘Which is why I have taken the liberty of arranging something—if you could bring yourself to accept?’
‘Anything,’ Selina said fervently, and then realised how rude she sounded. ‘Within reason, of course. I feel we must not be a burden on others.’
‘I’ve told you—’ her cousin began but swiftly closed his mouth as the lawyer began to speak again.
‘Well, this might suit you. I have an elderly client who owns an estate. He recently became ill and has gone abroad for his health. He is hoping that his nephew will take over the estate, for it is entailed on him. However, the nephew currently lives in Italy, and though I have told him his duty is to return to the estate, he has informed me that he is content for now to leave it entirely in my hands. I am to manage the estate—and to install a housekeeper in the house, with a few servants to keep it in reasonable condition. However, the nephew does not wish it to be let to a tenant because he may one day choose to live there—though he thinks not for some years yet.’
‘Are you offering me the position of housekeeper?’ Selina stared at him in surprise.
‘Well, yes, in a way,’ her lawyer said. ‘What I thought was that you and your family could live there—and take with you the servants you intend to keep. I shall pay their wages and make you some small remuneration—say three hundred pounds a year.’
‘Nonsense!’ Cousin Joshua was outraged. ‘How dare you suggest that my cousin become a paid servant? She and her sisters will live with me, as I told them right from the start.’
‘No, cousin, we shall not.’ Selina’s voice was cold and proud, and all eyes turned on her. ‘I am three and twenty, and you are not my guardian. Mama left the care of my sisters to me, because she trusted me to care for them—and I shall.’
‘You will not consider becoming a housekeeper?’ He looked shocked.
‘I think it may be the perfect solution,’ Selina said, and turned with considerable relief to the lawyer. ‘However, I could not accept the wage, Mr Breck. What I can accept is that you allow us to live there as your client’s tenants in return for keeping the house in good order. I shall undertake to help you with the estate, for I was used to helping Papa, as you know. I am well able to do bookwork, and to supervise the maintenance of property—and if you have good bailiffs and farm managers, I can liase with them and report to you.’
‘Well … it is not exactly what I intended … but I see no reason why it should not work. However, I must insist that you allow me to pay the wages of the resident servants at least. It is a big house, and you could not afford to keep enough staff unless I contribute—as my client’s agent, of course.’
‘How many servants are there?’
‘Just two outside men and an elderly butler, Trent, who was too old to travel with my client. He wishes to remain at the house until he can no longer work. You will need at least two maids and a cook if you are to live there comfortably.’
‘Yes, I think we shall,’ Selina said. ‘Mama’s maid, Jane, Betty, our maid of all work, and Cook all wish to come with us and have declared they will work for nothing but their board. Also Papa’s groom, Jeremiah. He says nothing shall make him leave us but death, and I cannot kill him, so I must keep him. I shall, of course, pay them something—but you must leave that to me, Mr Breck. I shall contrive somehow—even if I have to sell Aunt Mabel’s pearls. Mama gave them to me, and if need be I shall sell them.’
‘Oh, Selina, you love those pearls,’ Amy protested tearfully.
‘Yes, I do, but this is a solution for us, dearest. Do you not see how perfect it is? We shall live quietly but we shall still be ladies, even if we have very little money. We may entertain occasionally—and we shall meet people living nearby. It is possible that one of us might—’
‘You cannot possibly live on two hundred pounds a year,’ Cousin Joshua cut in rudely, looking annoyed. ‘If you refuse my offer of a home, I shall wash my hands of you. You will get nothing from me—not a penny.’
‘Sir, that is not necessary,’ Mr Breck remonstrated. ‘I am more than willing to pay Miss Searles a retainer for looking after the house if she wishes.’
‘I shall remember that, and if I become desperate, I may reconsider,’ Selina said with a smile. ‘You have been very kind, Cousin Joshua—however, I must decline your offer of a home. We shall be packed and ready to leave within three days. I should appreciate it if you will not send your builders in until after we have left,’ she added dryly.
‘You will regret this,’ he said, giving her a furious look. ‘Just remember that this arrangement is only temporary. The nephew could return at any time. Just don’t come crying to me when you’re homeless and destitute.’
‘Now, that is not called for, sir.’ Mr Breck looked outraged. ‘If such a thing should happen, Miss Searles must apply to me, and I shall find her a cottage she can afford to rent until such time as she is married.’
‘And who will want to marry a woman with no fortune and two sisters in tow?’ Cousin Joshua said harshly. ‘Only a fool would consider it.’
With that he strode from the parlour, leaving silence behind him.
Selina recovered first. ‘I fear I have upset our cousin,’ she said calmly. ‘Do not judge him too harshly, Mr Breck.
He has little from his inheritance but the house, and you cannot blame him for wanting it to be free of occupants who pay nothing.’
‘Mr Searles is a warm man. It would not have hurt him to allow you to live here free of charge as his tenants.’
‘No, it would not,’ Selina agreed. ‘However, he has long held a ridiculous notion that we shall marry, and I think he hoped to force my hand—but nothing would make me consider it.’
‘It was not what your mama hoped for,’ the lawyer said. ‘She believed you would marry well once you had your chance at a proper come-out.’ He hesitated, then, ‘I suppose you would not allow me to advance you the money for a season?’
‘How good you are!’ Selina exclaimed warmly, shaking her head. ‘Really kind—but I could not allow it. I might never be able to repay you. No, do not say it doesn’t matter, because it does. We may be poor, but we are honest, and we have our pride, sir.’
‘Yes. I was afraid you might not accept—but your own idea is better than mine. Though I wish you would allow me to pay you for looking after the estate. An extra three hundred pounds might have provided enough for Miss Amy to have a come-out in a year or so …’
‘No, Selina must not be made to feel guilty on my account,’ Amy said instantly. ‘She is the beauty of the family. I am confident that something wonderful will happen. Before you arrived we had nowhere to go—now we have a new home. What is the name of the house, sir?’
‘Banford Hall,’ he replied, and smiled at her. ‘It is an old property, Miss Amy—gothic, some might call it, and rather beautiful in my opinion. The family has lived there for centuries, and parts of it are medieval.’
‘How exciting!’